“Study on Drug Abuse Situation and Service Needs of Non-engaged Youths in Hong Kong” Executive Summary

Background Psychoactive substance use among adolescents and youths is a global health problem. Nonengaged youths (NEY), which is defined as adolescents and youths of 15 to 24 years old, having neither been schooled nor employed in the past three months at the time of the interview being conducted, is a particular high risk group. According to a report previously prepared by our group (Lau, 2003), the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among NEY aged 15 to 19 recruited from outreach services, the Youth Work Experience Training Scheme, and the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme was 8% in 2002. As the problems faced by NEY are different from those faced by engaged youths, different antidrug strategies are required. It is warranted to investigate the risk and protective factors associated with substance use behaviors and intentions among NEY.